[Holder]
The invitation delivered last night was remarkably simple, especially given the importance of the occasion: “Start where it all began. Meet us at the Pig’s Paunch one hour before dawn.” The Pig’s Paunch is a run-down building with a faded sign of a large pig standing on its hind legs, arms folded above a corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scents of human sweat, stale tobacco, and leftover food. In the center of the room, surrounded by inebriates sleeping off their revelries, a familiar elven man stands high upon top of a large round table.
“Welcome! Welcome, my students! Please, have a seat!” With that, Kreighton Shaine, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Scrolls, nimbly drops down to sit cross-legged on the table before looking about the tavern with a sense of reverent wonder. “Can you believe it? It all started here years ago—well, over four hundred of hundred of them at least. Under this very roof the Pathfinder Society was born." Excitement oozes from the elf.
“But today! Today you will begin your Confirmation! Master Farabellus, Master Westyr, and I all agree you each have shown your worth and dedication to the Society, so there’s no better time to see if you can handle becoming full field operatives. Allow me to introduce you to Janira Gavix,” he says as he motions for an excitable halfling woman to approach. She wears a large backpack and carries all manner of tools, pouches, and scroll cases around her waist. Shaine continues, saying, “Janira here will be going with you on your Confirmation. She was one of my brightest pupils and will no doubt be an invaluable resource on our journey, for she discovered the caves you are about to explore During her own confirmation.”
Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, “Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances
in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, I witnessed a lone gillman entering a concealed cave. I thought little of it at the time, but I saw another one enter the cave again a month later as my Confirmation stretched on. A few days later, after I completed my assigned task, I entered the cave system, but was unable to find the gillmen.”
Master Shaine hops to his feet. “Initiates, for your Confirmation, you will travel to these caves to explore and document its many passages. Additionally, and most importantly, you are to learn what the gillmen are up to in there. Oh, and you need to come back alive as well.” With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls jumps off the table and strolls out of the building while humming to himself.
Janira's peppy smile looks from each one of the faces in the group, "Master Shaine already introduced me. I'm Janira, Janira Gavix, story teller and seeker of brilliant tales extraordinaire! Please, introduce yourselves!"
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The wall next to the door thuds with the force of a someone crashing into it.
A few seconds go by before the door is opened and a mere five foot tall male human walks in extremely embarrassed and ashamed.
"I got the invitation however I have been running late all day, is it too late to join this group for the confirmation trials?"
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A young man, with jet black hair and a small amount of stubble on his face walks into the meeting room written on the note he was given/
Yes, finally , my time has come! Time to be to start climbing the ranks of The Society, and impress the higher ups! I am gonna CRUSH the enemy under the bulk of my hammer!
Thoughts race in and out of his mind, from idea to idea as he strides into the room. He wears leather armor, with an earth breaker strapped to his back. He looks around the room his blue eyes narrowed with speculation.
The name is Matéo Cole, and I plan on smashing whatever stands in my way of passing my Confirmation. I have a mean streak, which has served me well in my life. I grow tired of my home sh*thole, and I figured at least the Society gives me a way out of my personal hell. I don't have a filter, and will never get one. I use my strengths to get what I want or need. As long as you don't butt head with me, my weapon won't butt heads with your skull.
He pops his ass back on the seat, not really caring whether or not her has made friends. The streets have taught him that friends either stab you in the back, or die.
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Tall for a Tengu, Ravoon sits at a table listening to the speach and mission. His dark black with blue shine feathers assist him in blending into the shadowed corner in which he sits. He's excited to be here, eager to prove himself.
Ravoon watches as the newcomer barges into the room proclaiming to be late. Wondering to himself "If he's late to his confirmation, what else will he be late for?"
The Tengus eyes dart to Mateo as he stands and speaks. "What a brute, but at least he was here on time. He may prove useful." Ravoon decides.
Ravoon continues to watch. He will wait until others have come forward. He prefers to do the watching rather than being watched.
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A tallish man of obvious Taldan descent comes into the room. He appears slight of build, but moves as lithe as a cat. His long brown hair tied back in a ponytail, his smile seems infectious.
Ho, friends. I am happy to meet you all. I am Miklos, and I am eager to prove my worth to the Society. he says with a short bow.
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An older-looking gentleman nods his head in greeting. With a thin frame and flowing grey hair that seems to continually drift around as if there were a breeze inside this stuffy room he steps away from the beam he'd been leaning against as he listened to the mission briefing. "Well met Janira, fellow Pathfinders. I am Robyyn, and I look forward to making your further acquaintance and helping to assist this august organization.". He is dressed in simple clothing of a cut and style long out of fashion, all in dusty greys with slight pale-blue accents. He extends his finger straight out and inserts it into the mass of hair swirling around his head. Retracting it after a moment, you see a small bat hanging from the finger. "I should introduce Ayrii as well; he's dear to me and will be around, so please don't be startled."
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Shizkenki nods as each member introduces himself and then stares wide eyed at the bat before shaking himself out of his stupor and bows down slightly to introduce himself
"Hi, nice to meet you all, you can call me Shizkenki or Shi for short. I hope to be able to lend this bow to the organization one day be known for being the one who is able to guide teams to any destination.
Janira looks to each, a particular amount of interest on the tengu, then on the bat at which point she seems to be conversing with the creature.
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Arriving a little bit late, a massive Oread comes in. With a voice like rolling rocks he speaks up while towing his companion."Apologies. Am Late. Know it. Big headstrong here needed a leckerly to come."
He is wearing a dull gray four mirror armor and a huge bardich is on his back. He tows a massive warcat into the room.
With wide eyes, the little halfling stares at the huge man. "You know, since Master Westyr returned, we have seen a lot more of this lot! Welcome aboard!"
Looking from one to another, she nods, "Now then, somewhere I have notes about each of your capabilities, but if you could entail all of that to your companions. Your strengths, weaknesses, and relevant gear that might help in your Confirmation!"
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The sylph responds to the halfling. "I will let you know now that I am no good in combat. I carry a dagger and club so that I can appear to be a threat, which may help some of you some of the time, but my skill is in undermining the enemy and their own confidence. And one day I will control the wind."
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Far from the first time tonight, the door to The Pig's Paunch bursts open, and yet another Pathfinder runs in though the door with an animal in tow. This particular Pathfinder is a tall Garundi man with curly black hair that his shocks of flame red running through it, and as his hair bounces while he runs, you see that he has no ears on his head. Loping behind him is a bear about the size of a small dog with dark fur and golden stripes running along it.
I am sorry, I did not mean to arrive so late, but the other initiates forget, I cannot hear their knocking, he says a little too loud and with a boisterous laugh, Schaka Inkedama, at your service. I am here to help you all stay on your feet and defeat any who oppose use! But please, if you need to talk to me, get my attention because I need to see your lips. He pushes his hair back as if to emphasize his lack of ears to hear with, also showcasing the fact that his arm looks to have been shoved into a blacksmith's furnace for a prolonged time.
Oh, and the adorable bear is Zaheilu, the small bear yawns as Schaka pats his head, he will fight alongside you in ways I can't.
Looking at the late arrival, the halfling smiled and gave a small nod, "Have good timing, you do! I am guessing that have some capabilities of talking to people...and perhaps a way to deal with swarms?" she questions as her eyes drag from each to the next.
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Matéo looks to the short-stature of the Gnome.
Well, I will tell you a few things I am not. I am NOT nice, I am NOT your bestie or your drinking buddy. I few things I am. I AM from the toughest part of Magnimar, Rag's End. I KNOW how to instill fear in my opponents, and given the opportunity I will aim for the soft and squishy part. I have basic knowledge of traps, and how they work, but I ain't the best at it.
He rummages through his backpack, and takes stock of what he has at his disposal.
Swarms huh, I guess I could grabs a few torches and maybe a flask of acid for the trip
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Schaka opens and closes his mouth a few times, as if to say something but fail to find the words. After another couple moments, he finds what he was trying to say: I knew I was forgetting something... Master Farabelus did teach me about being prepared for swarms, but I forgot. Can we stop by the market so I may buy some alchemist's fire before we go... wherever we're going?
Janira looks at the loud man, stares, rather openly and then glances over to her teacher who gives a shrug.
"Alright, fellas, do you have any questions? If not, we can head out for the foothills. Have be on your toes, because if you are on hooves, the centaurs might take offense," the little halfling was trying to be funny as she gaze on each of the young, wannabe Pathfinders.
"On to the details of the mission at hand,” Janira says with an eager grin. “After reviewing my mission reports personally, Master Shaine believes it is no coincidence that each time they entered the caves it was during a full moon, so it is also no coincidence that you have been called here now, just a day before the moon is full again. We both believe that tomorrow night is our best chance to find out why these caves are important and what exactly the gillmen are doing in there.
“We’ll need to spend every minute of daylight possible to reach the caves by foot, crossing over the Cairnlands, taking the paths to Diobel, and finally making our way through the wilderness. With any luck we won’t run into any of the local inhabitants. Once in the caves, we’ll need to work together to explore and determine whether any gillman are present or have been recently. Keep an eye out for any other clues that might hint at the caves’ significance, too.”
She says this as she walks with the group, bouncing along.
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The group leaves the city and begins to travel.
The travel is easy, and the land is varied enough to keep interest. Janira spends much time pointing out different vegetation and small bits of wildlife and geography.
Night time calls for an eventual stop to the travels, and the full moon is a day away.
Janira is very talkative...with anyone who wishes to talk with her.
Given time, she will yawn, "I believe we need to set a watch order and then get some rest. Tomorrow will be more travel and then you will INVESTIGATE!"
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Schaka shrugs as he watches people discuss watches and who will be where. I'm not so good at being on watch, but Saheilu will be with me. I can see in the dark and Saheilu can hear and smell, so together we make a full person! Schaka lets forth another laugh. When he calms himself back down, Put us wherever you need, we shall be ready.
The night goes by with no issues, and in the morning, the group breaks camp and begins to head off with Janira pushing once again.
"Gotta get up! Gotta get going! Going to see the cave tonight!"
As they continue on their way, Janira pulls out a gorgeous silver wayfinder, the Glyph of the Open Road emblazoned on it. As she checks their direction, she smiles brightly to the others, "I received this wayfinder upon the successful completion of my own Confirmation!" She studies the device for a moment and then nods, "We are on the right trail, just need to keep on."
The area is a dense forest and the group is shielded from the sun for the most part at the moment, thanks to said forest. Vegetation grows thick all about them as they head on in their journey.
As the group is moving along towards the mountains, Robyyn, Miklos, and Steinfaust all spot movement coming in their direction and let the group know before the insects can jump on the group.
Init Order: Bold Is Up
Robyyn
Mateo
Swarms
Miklos
Steinfaust
Ravoon
Schaka
Two large groups of spiders begin to swarm towards the group.
Mateo's quick step and throw surely threw him off and his weapon did not quite strike the spiders as they surged forward and it rolled just off to the side, still managing to burn some of the spiders...
The two groups of swarms converge on the group of would-be Pathfinders.
Janira shakes off both effects.
Everyone is up, Robyyn and Mateo are last, please